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United States Patent | 5,507,795 |
Chiang ,   et al. | April 16, 1996 |
Improved atherectomy catheters and methods of use are disclosed. The catheter includes a flexible body with a longitudinal passage therethrough. A housing is mounted at the distal end, with an elongated aperture formed in a lateral side. A drive cable is disposed in the passage of the catheter body, and a working element is disposed in the housing, attached to the distal end of the drive cable. Passages and openings are provided for flowing blood into the housing and for flowing blood from a proximal to a distal side of the cutting blade. An impeller can be provided proximal to the cutting blade to impel blood into the housing and past the blade. Blood flows through the housing and past the blade so as to perfuse tissue downstream from the device.
Inventors: | Chiang; Andrew L. (Fremont, CA); Krier; Jeffrey W. (El Granada, CA); Hundertmark; Ron R. (San Mateo, CA); Chang; Robert T. (Belmont, CA); Schulz; Grace Y. (San Carlos, CA) |
Assignee: | Devices for Vascular Intervention, Inc. (Redwood City, CA) |
Appl. No.: | 236485 |
Filed: | April 29, 1994 |
Current U.S. Class: | 606/167; 606/180 |
Intern'l Class: | A61B 017/32; A61B 017/14 |
Field of Search: | 606/79,80,86,87,88,159,167-169,170-173,180-181 |
4705038 | Nov., 1987 | Sjostrom | 606/180. |
4771774 | Sep., 1988 | Simpson | 606/180. |
4781186 | Nov., 1988 | Simpson | 604/22. |
5019088 | May., 1991 | Farr | 606/180. |
5026384 | Jun., 1991 | Farr | 606/180. |
5102415 | Apr., 1992 | Guenther | 606/159. |
5181920 | Jan., 1993 | Mueller | 606/180. |
5217474 | Jun., 1993 | Zacca | 606/180. |
5217479 | Jun., 1993 | Shuler | 606/180. |
5358509 | Oct., 1994 | Fine | 606/180. |